Blueprints for success

Recent graduates are building new practices with careful planning and hard work

Summer 2006

alumni

Clowning around for chiropractic

Dinner and a toy Once a month Leonard Weiss, D.C., dressed
as a clown, treats patients and their guests to a free dinner at a
Quad Cities-area restaurant where he provides the entertainment.
A skilled balloon “sculptor,” here Dr. Weiss shapes a balloon into
a toy for a young visitor.

If you call Leonard Weiss, D.C., Davenport ’01, a clown, he
won’t take offense. He’s actually been a clown for years. It started
as something he enjoyed doing to make extra money and
has grown into a marketing effort.

“Before I attended Palmer, I was involved in children’s entertainment,”
said Dr. Weiss, whose private practice, Weiss Family
Chiropractic, is located in Davenport. “Today, I make balloon
animals and do face paintings. At first I would perform at
various restaurants to help generate business for them. But
once I became a student and a local newspaper featured me
and mentioned I was going to Palmer, it became a great way to
talk to people about chiropractic as well.”

He feels that being a clown has opened up opportunities for
dialogue between himself and future patients. Rather than talking
to a doctor, which can be intimidating to some, they can
talk to a man in a funny suit, he said. “It seems to lower their
defenses so they can talk freely.”

Dr. Weiss is also involved with the Alumni Student Recruitment
Program (ASRP). He attends events for local high school students
and is eager to talk to them about Palmer and chiropractic.

On average, Dr. Weiss goes out into the community four times
a month. He holds blood pressure screenings, stress evaluations
and works with parks and recreation departments as well as
restaurants.

“When I paint faces and make balloon animals, it’s a chance for
me to entertain and introduce people to chiropractic,” he said.
“Patient education is very important. I want to get people thinking,
‘Why aren’t I seeing a chiropractor?’”